Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIXED TILTABLE ANTENNA DEVICE
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/699,673, filed on July 15, 2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates generally to antenna devices. The invention
relates more particularly to fixed tiltable enclosures for antenna devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the past, antenna devices for receiving have included relatively
complex mechanisms for adjusting position, orientation, elevation, etc. to
focus the direction of transmission and/or reception. For example, elevation
adjustment mechanisms have been incorporated into radio-frequency (RF)
satellite antenna designs to allow better focusing of the antenna to the area
of
the sky where the satellites) are located. This has been necessary because
the reception beam of the antenna is narrower than that area of the sky that
the satellites) occupy when considering all geographical locations of
utilization. For example, an antenna may be required to receive signals from
systems having fixed geostationary satellites. The position of the satellites
in
the sky can vary in elevation from 20 degrees to 60 degrees from the horizon
depending on where, geographically, the antenna is located. As a result,
depending on the geographic location of the antenna, the elevation of the
antenna may need to be adjusted to achieve proper focus on the satellites.
[0004] As such, home antenna modules, or fixed location antenna modules
normally provide for an elevation adjustment mechanism to focus the
reception beam (for example, where the signal is most efficiently received) in
the direction of the satellite. In azimuth, the antenna is simply oriented in
position. This elevation mechanism typically includes a base for the antenna
and an enclosure for the antenna element and a low-noise amplifier (LNA).
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The enclosure is attached to the base having a hinge mechanism that
ratchets or is fixable at a desired elevation angle within the range
prescribed
by the application. This mechanism adds to the complexity, size, and cost of
the unit.
[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for relatively simple antenna devices to
provide for a desired orientation of the antenna. There also is a need for
simple antenna devices that provide for multiple selectable desired antenna
reception beam elevation angles.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(0006] According to one aspect of the invention, there is an antenna
device. The antenna device includes an antenna and an enclosure supporting
the antenna. The enclosure includes one or more fixed faces on which the
antenna device can be placed to provide for the reception of electromagnetic
signals by the antenna at a desired elevation angle.
[0007] According to another aspect of the invention, there is another
antenna device. The antenna device includes an antenna and a support
member supporting the antenna. The support member includes one or more
fixed supports on which the antenna device can be placed to provide for the
reception of electromagnetic signals by the antenna at a desired elevation
angle.
[0008] Other devices, systems, methods features, and advantages of the
invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon
examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended
that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be
included within this description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(0009] The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale,
emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the
invention.
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Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding
parts throughout the different views.
(0010] FIGS. 1a-h provide multiple views of an antenna device with four
faces in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
(0011] FIGS. 2a-b provide multiple views of an antenna device with two
faces in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
(0012] FIGS. 3-10 provide multiple different views of the antenna device
illustrated in FIGS. 2a-b; and
[0013] FIG. 11 illustrates a backside view of the antenna and circuit board
positioned in the radome portion according to another embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(0014] Embodiments of the invention include antenna devices including an
antenna and one or more fixed supports on which the antenna device can be
placed to provide for a desired antenna reception beam elevation angle. The
antenna devices provide for reception of electromagnetic signals at a desired
elevation angle and may provide for multiple selectable elevation angles. The
fixed supports may be formed as part of a support member that supports the
antenna device. For example, the support member may be an antenna
enclosure, and the fixed supports may be one or more faces on the enclosure
on which the antenna device can be placed to provide for a desired antenna
reception beam elevation angle. For purposes of illustration, an exemplary
antenna device is illustrated in FIG. 1.
(0015] Antenna devices, provided in accordance with exemplary
embodiments described herein, utilize the fact that the satellites reside and
transmit signals over a fixed range of angles in elevation. For example, in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
angles that need to be properly covered for reception of certain satellite
signals are from approximately 20 degrees to 60 degrees. In accordance with
another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the angles that need
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to be properly covered for reception of certain satellite signals are from
approximately 50 degrees to 70 degrees. In accordance with yet another
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the antenna may need to be
directed approximately at the zenith, or 90 degrees from the horizon. It
should
be apparent that other angle ranges could also be employed depending upon
the type of satellite system that the antenna is required to receive.
[0016] Also, recognizing that the pointing accuracy of the antenna in
elevation is not extremely critical, it is not necessary to have a multitude
of
elevation positions between the extremes of the satellite location. Rather, by
breaking up this region into a number of subregions, the base of the antenna
device requiring an adjustable hinge mechanism can be eliminated. Instead
the antenna device can be designed to have a support member with one or
more fixed supports, each at a particular angle with respect to the center of
the directional antenna reception beam. For example, the directional antenna
element may be supported inside an enclosure having one or more faces at
particular desired angles with respect to the direction of the antenna
reception
beam. As a result, the desired reception beam elevation angle can be
achieved simply by placing the antenna device on the desired fixed support.
In the case of the full antenna enclosure, the desired reception beam
elevation angle can be achieved by placing the antenna device on the desired
enclosure face. If the device has multiple fixed supports or enclosure faces,
a
different elevation angle can be selected based upon the positioning the
antenna device on a particular one of the fixed supports or enclosure faces.
[0017] For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A-H, a four-faced antenna
device 100 can be employed. The four-faced antenna device 100 may be
employed to cover antenna reception beam elevation angles from 0 to 60
degrees. Individual faces 102, 104, 106, 108 are designed to direct the
antenna reception beam to cover different angles from the horizon. Face 102
is designed to center the antenna reception beam at an angle of
approximately 0 degrees elevation (the horizon); face 104 is designed to
center the antenna reception beam at an angle of approximately 20 degrees
elevation from the horizon; face 106 is designed to center the antenna
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reception beam at an angle of approximately 40 degrees elevation from the
horizon; and face 108 is designed to center the antenna reception beam at an
angle of approximately 60 degrees elevation from the horizon.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1A and FIGS. 1C-F, the faces 102, 104, 106, 108
of antenna device 100 are arranged with the face 102 (0 degrees) opposite
the face 108 (60 degrees). Similarly, the face 104 (20 degrees) is opposite
the
face 106 (40 degrees). With this arrangement, the antenna device 100 may
be placed on any one of the four faces 102, 104, 106, 108 to achieve the
desired elevation angle for the antenna reception beam.
[0019] The antenna device 100 also includes a radome 110. The radome
110 is illustrated in FIGS. 1A-C and FIGS. 1E-H. The radome 110 covers and
protects the antenna inside the antenna device enclosure. The radome may
be configured and shaped in any desired manner depending on the particular
application. The antenna device 100 also may include a port 130 for
connecting an antenna cable to the antenna inside the antenna device 100.
(0020] The antenna device 100 depicted in FIG. 1 includes four fixed
enclosure faces, but other devices may include more or fewer enclosure
faces, depending on the application. For example, if the range of required
antenna reception beam elevation angles is narrow enough, an antenna
device may include only a single fixed enclosure face. Alternatively, an
antenna device may include two fixed enclosure faces, like the exemplary
embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A-B.
(0021] As illustrated in FIGS. 2A-B, a two-faced antenna device 200 can
also be employed. In this embodiment, two faces 202, 204 are designed to
direct the antenna reception beam to cover different elevation angles from the
horizon. Face 202 is designed to direct the antenna reception beam at an
angle of approximately 20 degrees from the horizon; and face 204 is designed
to direct the antenna reception beam at an angle of approximately 40 degrees
from the horizon.
[0022] The faces 202, 204 of the antenna device 200 are arranged with the
face 202 (20 degrees) opposite the face 204 (40 degrees). With this
arrangement, the antenna device 100 may be placed on either of the two
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faces 102, 104 to achieve the desired elevation angle for the antenna
reception beam. As illustrated in FIGS. 2a-b, the faces 202, 204 may be
connected by smoothly curved portions 220 of the antenna device enclosure.
[0023] Like the antenna device 100, the antenna device 200 also includes
a radome 210. The radome 110 covers and protects the antenna inside the
antenna device enclosure. The radome may be configured and shaped in any
desired manner depending on the particular application. The antenna device
200 also is shown with an antenna cable 230 for connecting the antenna
device 200 to a receiver.
[0024] FIGS. 3-10 also depict the two-faced antenna device 200 from
multiple different views. FIGS. 3 and 5 illustrate the antenna device 200
positioned on face 204 to provide an antenna reception beam elevation angle
of approximately 20 degrees. Similarly, FIGS. 4, 7, and 8 illustrate the
antenna device 200 positioned on face 202 to provide an antenna reception
beam elevation angle of approximately 60 degrees.
[0025] FIG. 11 illustrates a backside view of the antenna and internal
circuit board 1112 positioned in the radome portion 1110 according to another
embodiment of the present invention. The circuit board 1112 includes a
connector 1114 for connecting an antenna cable inside the enclosure of the
antenna device.
[0026] The antenna devices illustrated in FIGS. 1-11 include an enclosure
with two separable parts; a back portion including the faces 102, 104, 106,
108, 202, 204 and a front radome portion 110, 210, 1110. The back portion,
which includes the angled mount faces, can be made, for example, from a
zinc die casting. As indicated above, each face of the back portion is
individually designed at a particular angle with respect to the antenna
reception beam, which extends perpendicularly from the front of the radome
portion. As a result, the antenna device may be positioned on a particular one
of the faces to provide a required antenna beam output angle.
[0027] The front radome portion can comprise a plastic material, made via
injection molding, for example. Located inside the enclosure is a patch
antenna, or the like. An electronics circuit board that can include a low-
noise
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amplifier (LNA) and a band-pass filter can also be located within the
enclosure. The patch antenna can be attached to the circuit board. In turn,
the
circuit board can be secured to the radome. The radome portion as illustrated
in FIG. 11 (including the antenna and circuit board) can then be attached to
the back portion of the enclosure.
[0028] Although the front radome portion and the back portion of the
antenna devices 100, 200 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 are separable parts,
other designs are possible. For example, the front radome portion and the
back portion may be integrally formed as a single unit. One of ordinary skill
in
the art will appreciate that other supporting enclosure designs are possible
depending on the particular design parameters of the application.
Additionally,
while the antenna device herein has been described with a base portion
having two and four faces, one could understand that a base portion having a
different number of faces could also be employed.
[0029] In addition, the antenna device support need not entirely enclose
the antenna. Instead, the support may take the form of a frame surrounding
the antenna element and providing multiple separate framed supports at
different angles with respect to the direction of the antenna reception beam.
Like the multiple faces of the enclosures illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
multiple supports of an alternative frame support member provide for different
elevation angles of the antenna device. One of ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate that other non-enclosing support member designs are possible
depending on the design parameters of the application.
[0030] The antenna devices, as illustrated above, provide coverage for the
fixed elevation angles) needed to cover and locate satellites. With regard to
the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the antenna device may be situated to
operate based upon its geographical location (i.e., within the United States).
The antenna device can be placed in a window sill or the like, as long as a
clear path to the satellite is provided.
(0031] For example, in the northern United States, satellite antennas may
be oriented at a relatively low elevation angle due to the position of the
satellites in space. As a result, the antenna device may be situated on the
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face that orients the antenna reception beam at an elevation angle of 20
degrees. By contrast, in the southern United States, satellite antennas may be
oriented at a higher elevation angle for proper focus. As a result, the
antenna
may be situated on the face that orients the antenna reception beam at an
elevation angle of 40 degrees. Thus, the elevation angle of the antenna
device may be adjusted to suit its geographic location without the need for a
separate base, hinge, and fixing mechanism. A fixed support or face also may
be provided on the antenna device at a position opposite that of the antenna
reception beam. Placing the antenna device on this support or face provides
reception approximately at the zenith, or 90 degrees from the horizon.
[0032] By providing one or more fixed supports or enclosure faces to
support an antenna device, the size of the antenna device can be reduced,
and the complexity of the antenna mount can be eliminated. This allows for a
reduction in the cost of the antenna device and also provides for a more
aesthetically pleasing package.
[0033] It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as
illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that the
following
claims, including all equivalents, are intended to define the scope of this
invention.
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